Green Homes

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A new rule is being put in place for those building in South Miami.  Any new residential construction that takes place in the area will be forced to install solar panels on the roof. When people do home renovations, some of them will also be subject to the new law that comes into effect September 18, 2017.

Other areas have already been subject to this law (or similar versions of it) in the state of California.  The rule is that every 1,00 square feet of roof will require 175 square feet of solar panels.  All multi-story residential buildings, as well as single-unit family residences and townhouses are subject to this rule. Vis-à-vis renovations, it is all of those which replace more than 75 percent of a residential structure or structure expansion by more than 75 percent.

The initiative has been commended by Florida International University biology professor, Mayor Philip Stoddard.  His own house runs on solar power which he has found decreases home ownership costs.  On a more global level, it provides house sellers with more selling points.  The reason it has to be done is because South Florida is potentially being wiped out by the sea level rise so if every rooftop harvests free sunlight, then they are doing their part.

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green-housingBabcock Ranch, a new 18,000-acre solar powered town is to have a new development.  Thanks to Kitson & Partners, Naples-based Fox Premier Builders are to be constructing this new environmentally friendly town, just 20 minutes away from Fort Myers.

In addition, Towne and Stock Development has also begun construction in Lake Timber.  This is the fight community that is being put up at Babcock Ranch with additional models expected next month from Florida Lifestyle Homes of Fort Myers.  Situated on 50- or 60-by-130-foot home sites, the base prices are in the $300s. Cooter Ramsey of Allison, Ramsey & Associates was the designer along with Timberbuilt and Cottage Collection floor.  Each plan has a covered front porch which means that the home can be from front to back but still allow for neighbor interaction.  There are also front yard spaces, fenced in backyards and rear porches.

Meanwhile a part of North Key Largo (which used to just be a pile of old trash including sinking boats and illegal structures) has now been transformed into an aquatic preserve.  This 22 acre property located across from Alabama Jack’s restaurant is to be known as the John Gautier Aquatic Preserve.  This was a long project which began with getting squatters out and working with the property owner who had inherited the space from  her mom who knew nothing about what was going on at the property.